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Chapter Text

His steps were sure. Making him look like he was sure of himself, even though he wasn't at all.

He arrived to his destiny. Next to Gi-hun.

He just wanted to say goodbye. To look at him one last time before letting him go forever. Letting him rest.

And, even though it killed him inside, admit silently that Gi-hun was right and he was wrong.

Because that act made In-ho reconsider his ideas. Maybe Gi-hun was right after all.

Being in front of him with the mask was wrong. He didn't like it. Even though he hid himself behind the name 'Young-il' he showed the real In-ho to him. He let himself be for the first time in years.

He took his mask off, letting the air hit his face. Looking at Gi-hun's face in that state made his eyes watery. For him, Gi-hun wasn't just a player. 

Neither a friend.

He was something more. 

Something that was scary to admit now that he was dead.

He finally broke eye contact with him. The air couldn't get into his lungs properly. He actually wanted to throw up.

He looked at his body. Already saying goodbye. When he noticed something.

Movement.

Gi-hun's fingers were moving.

He crounched next to him and pressed two fingers against his neck.

He had a pulse.

How could that even be possible? The fall was deadly. Everyone else died.

He got his walkie and talked through it.

"I need some paramedics in the last game. Now. Not a single question" 

'Okay' said a voice. He stayed next to him, he didn't get up.

The view was killing him inside, even more now knowing that he could feel the pain. In a moment full of... Feelings, he leaned and stroked his hair.

Gi-hun's eyes moved to him. To look at him.

In that moment, he realised. He couldn't get out of there without Gi-hun.

Something pulled both of them together and now... He wasn't sure he could make it without him.

Two minutes later, some guards arrived with a stretcher and an first aid kit.

While he was being attended, his walkie talked.

'The coast guard is arriving, what do we do?' asked one of his guards. He talked.

"Start the evacuating plan" 

And then, he started going upwards, he had to get the winner of the games.

"I don't know for sure if he'll wake up. Even though his brain is alive, his vital organs were hurt in the fall" said his private doctor "The blood you donated him will be a big help, but I won't give you many hopes"

"Do whatever you need to do, don't worry about money"

The doctor nodded and they both turned to look at Gi-hun. He was connected to a machine, helping him to breath and control controlling his heart.

In-ho sat next to him while the doctor got out of the room. When he was alone, he grabbed Gi-hun's hand. Now that he was alone, his hand was trembling, just like his lower lip.

"You can do it, Gi-hun" he whispered. A single tear falling down his cheek "I know you can"

He couldn't give up now.

Chapter Text

Another day next to Gi-hun. 

Even if he couldn't see or hear him.

He was right there, just like those 4 months. There wasn't a day In-ho didn't stay with him.

His room was next to him in that pink motel. The baby had a cradle next to his bed.

Everything was going fine, the baby was healthy, he was too. The games were over...

But Gi-hun wasn't there to see it.

To see that, finally, he believed in humans again, that he won.

He was feeding the baby when he realised. Gi-hun was moving his hand.

He never did that before. 

His expression changed. A frown appeared.

And his eyes opened.

He looked around the room, probably confused. 

In-ho silently hoped he didn't remember anything. That he didn't remember the betrayal.

But when their eyes crossed, he knew he remembered.

His eyes went down, to look at the baby in his arms.

"Gi-hun... You're awake" he breathed out.

The man looked at him, his eyes expressed something he couldn't explain, but you could tell he wasn't happy.

"Traitor..." he said, his voice harsh because of the time without speaking.

"Don't try to talk" he said and put the baby in the carriage, all under Gi-hun's eyes.

"Why are you here?"

"I've been here the whole time" he got close to him and tried to take his hand, but Gihun moved it, he didn't flatter at that and pressed his hand on the mattress "You're gonna get hurt if you keep talking. I'm gonna call your doctor, don't move"

"I don't need your fucking doctor, I want to get out of here. I don't wanna be in the same room as you" 

In-ho ignored him and made the call. It was just a couple of minutes, all the time looking at Gi-hun. 

But the man wasn't looking at him, was looking at the baby.

He finally hang up and spoke.

"She doesn't have a name yet, I was waiting for you to wake up and help me" 

"You didn't even know if I was going to wake up, I heard ehat the doctor said" his voice was angry. From where he was, he could hear how surprised the doctor was by the news.

"He didn't know if you were going to make it, but I was deadly sure"

"Why?" he asked with a frown.

"Because you're a fighter, a winner" he made a pause and turned his back to him "I knew you weren't gonna give up" he turned with a glass of water in his hands.

"You don't know me"

"I know you more than you think" he approached the glass of water towards the other "Here, have some water since you're not going to shut up"

"How can I know that's not poisoned?"

"When you fell, I saved you. I gave you my blood and I spent 4 months taking care of you. It's not poisoned"

Gihun scanned him, still with that frown that In-ho was starting to think that was cute and took the glass. When he drank what he wanted, he gave it back.

"Why did you save me?" he asked. In-ho left the glass next to Gi-hun's bed and spoke.

"When you fell, I went to your body for a last time, to look at your for the last time, but you started moving your fingers. I called some paramedics and you're here now, safe and sound" 

"That's how, not why" In-ho smiled a bit and talked.

"You won. When I saw you were moving, I realised I couldn't let you die without knowing that you won, you stopped the games" Gi-hun's face changed to complete surprise, his eyes opened wide and his lip trembled because of the emotions.

"What?"

"The games doesn't exist anymore, at least in Korea"

"You stopped the games?"

"No, you did it" he made a pause "You taught me that I was wrong, so I corrected my mistake in the best way I could. I can't take the dead people back, but I stopped bringing them to the games"

The room fell silent. The only noises they could hear were the baby's, who was playing with a spoon that In-ho gave her. Finally, Gi-hun talked.

"How is she?" he asked.

"Healthy. I've tried to... Make her feel loved, but when the night arrives and we get out of here, she cries. A lot. I think she recognizes you from your moments together"

For the first time in months, Gi-hun smiled. He gives In-ho that smile that he missed so much.

The doctor arrived and confirmed that Gi-hun was healing. They couldn't count how many times he said 'miracle'.

By the time the doctor got out of the room, it was the baby's time to sleep, so he took the carriage and started going away.

"There is a button next to you, it's connected to my room. Press it if you're in pain. I'm in the room next to this one" he turned to look at him "Good night, Gi-hun. Welcome back"

Chapter Text

In-ho didn't know what to do anymore.

The baby's belly was full, the room was in a good temperature. She was comfortable in her cradle. She was clean. He tried to make her lay next to him in the bed, on him...

But. She. Didn't. Stop. Crying.

Suddenly, a little siren could be heard.

It was from Gi-hun's room.

He never used it before, so he wondered why would he use it now. Probably he was in pain.

He took some pain killers the doctor left him and went to the room next to his.

"Where does it hurt?" he asked. Gi-hun's voice was low.

"I'm not in pain"

"What is it, then?" he asked, and then he realised that the baby's cries could be heard from there "Oh, is the baby? I'll move to another floor. Sorry"

"Don't do that. Bring her here"

"Here?" 

"Yeah, wanna help"

In those two weeks taking care of an awake Gi-hun he learnt something. He couldn't say no to him.

He got out of the room and reappeared with the baby crying in his arms.

Gi-hun straightened up. He could move a little, but his legs still were too weak. In-ho left her in his arms. The baby's cries turned in sobs. Gi-hun cradled her. 

The baby pressed her face against his chest and stopped sobbing. She was falling asleep.

"How do you make it look so easy? I've been doing that for hours"

"I don't know" he smiled looking at her face "She looks like her mother"

"She does. He nodded "She got a temper, specially when she doesn't get what she wants, but she's sweet most of the time"

The baby was sleeping by now. Gi-hun couldn't wipe the smile off his face, not even when he looked up at In-ho, whose chest was burning by the view.

"In-ho" he said. He pronounced his name for the first time. Even though he knew it, he never called him "I wanna get out of here, out of this bed. I... Wanna be in her life. I promised her mom"

In-ho smiled. Not a cinic smile, a real one. 

"We'll start the reinstatement tomorrow" he nodded. Gi-hun tried to give the baby to him, but she was holding his shirt with force, making it impossible without waking her.

"You can leave her here. Go and rest"

In-ho shook his head and sat on the fancy couch he bought for being next to Gi-hun long hours without being uncomfortable. 

"I'll stay right here"

"You don't need to, I-"

"Sleep, Gi-hun"

The man moved carefully until he was laid on the bed with the baby on his chest. The view was making In-ho weak, that's why he couldn't take his eyes off the scene.

Gi-hun's eyes started closing, his breathing was deeper. 

The minutes went by and he still couldn't take his eyes off him.

Gi-hun was recovering like a fucking horse. He was strong, that's for sure. He wanted to live, even after the tragedy he went through.

His eyes started closing. The view of Gi-hun was getting blurry. 

The thought of Gi-hun and the baby being the most beautiful things in his life drove him to sleep.

"Sun-hee, come on, eat a bit" groaned Gi-hun "You have to eat all the food, even the bananas" 

The baby had his lips in a thin line, she didn't let Gi-hun give her the food. 

"If you don't eat, you won't grow up"

"She doesn't understand you"

"Ga-yeong always understood me"

"Let me doubt that" 

"You don't have kids, you don't know" 

The air in the room turned thick. After some more trying, the girl finally opened her mouth. He cheered.

"Told you" he turned to look at the man, but he wasn't there anymore. He frowned.

It was always like that, In-ho would mess with him until he pissed Gi-hun off. He would give him a sharp answer and In-ho would just smile and ask him what he wanted for dinner.

But now there wasn't a smile. In-ho left the room.

He took Sun-hee and looked for him. He was in his room, serious. Gi-hun spoke.

"Is something wrong?" 

He didn't answer. He was reorganizing the baby's clothes, since there were some where she didn't fit anymore.

"Is it something I said?" still no response "Is it about the kids?" In-ho's back turned rigid, Gi-hun knew he was right "Well, I'm sorry, I didn't know it would upset you that much-" 

In-ho interrupted him.

"It wasn't a lie" he said "My story. It was real. I know you think I made it all up, but I really had a wife who was pregnant" Gi-hun didn't talk, he didn't even breath "You know, I was in the games once. I tried to save them, but when I won the games and went back to the hospital, she wasn't there. She died while I was playing" 

"Wait, so, you were a player?" he asked. The other man nodded "Then why would you run the games? You lived the hell that is being there"

"When I played, it was very different. It was unffair. Some players had more facilities than others. They wanted to create tension between all of us so it was even more brutal. In the end, I was the favorite so the boss helped me to win. I hated it, but I wanted to survive" his voice was soft, a little broken "When he offered me to run the games, I did it with one condition, fair games. I knew that if it wasn't me, they would still be unffair, so I accepted. I didn't have anything left either, so it seemed like the best option"

Some seconds went by, the silence was... Tense. In-ho didn't know what Gi-hun would think.

"So, instead of trying to stop them, you made them more fair?"

"Yes"

"That's still fucked up"

"I know"

Gi-hun took a long breath. Sun-hee wanted to be on the floor, so he left her. She crawled to In-ho.

"It's better than nothing" he said "I'm sorry about earlier" his face was serious as he turned around "You're a better person than I thought" and he left the room.

In-ho smiled, he smiled wide. Gi-hun didn't hate him that much now. That made him the happiest man in the world. 

He took Sun-hee and cheered with her. He lifted her on the air and catched her, making her laugh.

"He doesn't hate me" he cheered. 

Chapter Text

"Does the fever lows?" asked Gi-hun. In-ho shook his head.

"Not a little" Gi-hun pressed the damp cloth he went to get. Sun-hee was sobbing. 

They sat on the bed and looked at her cradle. The baby finally started falling asleep with the new cloth. The doctor would be there tomorrow morning, but they had to control the fever so it doesn't hurt her.

"You can go to your room, I got this" he said. Gi-hun shook his head.

"I'm not letting you alone in this" 

"You've been taking care of her the whole day, you need to rest" 

"You too"

"How you wanna do that, then?"

Gi-hun let himself fall on the mattress in his back, making In-ho open his mouth.

"Wanna sleep here?"

"It's better than leaving you alone" he shrugged.

In-ho didn't want Gi-hun to notice how nervous that idea made him. Sleep with Gi-hun? In the same bed? Under the same sheets? Just imaginating it made his cheeks burn.

"Are you sure? I move so much and-"

"Don't be stubborn, we're grown ups. We can do this"

They finally got under the sheets. In-ho checked one last time on Sun-hee and let his head rest on the pillow. The same pillow where Gi-hun's long hair was falling.

"You need to cut your hair"

"Don't you like it this way?" he asked. 

"I like it in all ways, but the summer is coming and your neck is gonna burn under there"

"I had it long for years, I can do it" he said "But I guess I could fix it a bit. It's a fight every morning to keep it presentable"

"You don't know what that word means" 

Gi-hun laughed at his words. In-ho loved the sound of his laugh. He didn't get many chances to hear it, but when he did, he wished he could record it and listen every time he wanted.

"Who would think I would be here with you, sharing a bed as we take care of a baby" sighed Gi-hun "This is crazy" 

"You make me crazy" the words spilled out of In-ho's mouth before he could catch them. They fell in a embarrasing silence "I'm sorry, that was a joke but-" 

"For being the Frontman, you're actually very cute" he said. In-ho frowned.

"I am?"

"Yeah" smiled Gi-hun. In-ho's cheeks burnt. Why was he blushing? He was a 49 years old man! He should be mad!

Gi-hun suddenly pressed their lips together.

It was a fast movement. In-ho didn't even see it coming.

It was a soft kiss, they didn't even use their tongues, but In-ho felt it everywhere.

"Goodnight, In-ho" he said, turned around and left In-ho's head full of questions.

But the biggest one was:

Why the fuck did Gi-hun just kiss him.

And why did he like it that much.

At first, he thought that what he felt for Gi-hun was admiration, but now he realised it wasn't that. It was something more profound. He could feel how the relationship between them changed with time. How the hate became in respect, the respect in friendship and... What was it now? The feeling made him confused, specially after that kiss.

But Gi-hun was a man.

But... When did that matter? If he's feelings things and Gi-hun is too, nothing would stop them, right?

They didn't have anyone to stop them though. They were alone. Testing himself, he pushed his body where Gi-hun was and hugged him. The other didn't say a word, but he let their bodies press together.

When he slipped a hand around Gi-hun's waist, the man took it with his own. They were holding hands now.

No words needed. They knew what they felt and that was enough.

The tiredness after taking exhausting care of Sun-hee made his thoughts stop, replacing it with a long dream.

Where Gi-hun obviously was in.

Chapter Text

"Do you really think this is a good idea?" asked Gi-hun. In-ho nodded.

"Yeah, I do. She's your daughter. She deserves to know what his father went through"

"But- What if she thinks I'm disgusting? A- Murder"

"You are not that, Gi-hun. You were a hero. Tell her that"

"She isn't gonna want to talk with me, In-ho"

"At least try. You know you'll regret your whole life if you don't come out of this car now"

Gi-hun finally took a deep breath and opened the door. In-ho touched his hand for the last time and pulled him to his body, making their lips crush, the kiss was slow, full of feelings and support. Just like the ones they've been sharing for a month now.

Gi-hun finally got out of the car and walked towards the door, where he knocked. In-ho watched from where he was sat how the girl opened the door.

He saw the way her eyes filled with tears. How, even though she seemed angry, she hugged him. He could see Gi-hun's shoulder trembling.

"You didn't come! I was waiting for you!" she hitted his arm, Gi-hun let her "I was at the airport for eight hours!"

"Ga-yeong, I..." he started, his voice trembling because of his cries.

"Why, appa? Why did you leave me?" 

Gi-hun didn't say anything. Didn't explain himself. Ga-yeong stopped hugging him.

"You were gambling? Or drinking?" she asked. Gi-hun didn't deny it. She shook her head "Don't come back here, please"

And she closed the door.

Gi-hun stood there for some seconds, crying. In-ho saw him from the distance.

Finally, he got out of the car and walked to him. He held him and made their way to the car again.

The driver started the trip to the hotel again while In-ho held Gi-hun, who was destroyed.

"She hates me, In-ho. My daughter hates me" he cried.

He stroked his hair with one hand while the other held his hand. He knew she didn't hate him, she just didn't know what to do. If his dad abandoned her for gambling, she must hate him, but she didn't.

Her eyes didn't show hate.

The next morning, In-ho left Gi-hun and Sun-hee in the room and started his way back to Ga-yeong. He couldn't let this end like this. This was his fault.

He saw her walking to school, he started walking next to her and spoke.

"Ga-yeong?" he asked. The girl, a bit scared, looked at him "I'm your father's friend"

"What? I told him to never come back again" she said. He nodded.

"I know, but Gi-hun didn't explain himself properly" he made a pause "Your father... Saved people. Hundreds and hundreds of humans" 

"My father?" 

"Yeah, he was a hero for people. That's why he couldn't come and get to you" 

"I think you're wrong, my dad isn't a hero at all. My mom says he's just a loser and everyday I agree more with her"

"I assure you he isn't" he said "He's the best person I've ever met. I don't know what happened between you two before... All happened, but he always kept you in mind. He always wanted the best for you"

A tear fell from Ga-yeong's eye.

"He isn't the bad guy here and he... Suffered a lot of loses in the way. He wanted to have you back and he's destroyed now"

"I was destroyed at the airport when he left me"

"I know" he said "You're in all your right to not forgive him, it's your pain and your life. If you don't want to, you can head to school, but if you want to, come with me"

She thought about it for some seconds and turned to him.

"Take me to him" 

"Gi-hun! I'm back" he said. The girl entered in silence behind him.

"Hey, I already fed Sun-hee, she's playing with..." his voice fell when he saw who was next to In-ho. 

"Your friend told me... You did that to save people" he nodded, his eyes watery by the view of her. He didn't know if she would be in front of her again.

"I love you, Ga-yeong. You're everything to me, but I couldn't have a normal life knowing people were dying. I'm sorry, I-" 

Ga-yeong walked to him and hugged him tight. 

"Just... Don't do it again, okay? I... I'm still mad but... You're my father" 

Gi-hun held her tight, her head pressed against his chest. 

"You're a woman now" he gasped, pulling her far from his body to look at her properly.

"I'm 14" she rolled her eyes "I'm not a woman yet" 

Gi-hun laughed and stroked her face.

"You look like your mom" he smiled.

"Is that suppossed to be a compliment?" she asked. The other man laughed.

"Sure!"

They kept talking, sharing memories, but In-ho stood there. Some simple words riding his mind.

'You look like your mom'

'Is that suppossed to be a compliment?'

'Sure!'

Gihun was complimenting his ex-wife. He still thought she was pretty.

What did that mean?

His thoughts were interrupted by a baby's cry. He turned and found Sun-hee, a broken toy in her hand. 

The teenager walked behind him and looked down.

"Who is that?" she asked.

"Your stepsister, I think" said Gi-hun, scratching his head "We're not sure yet"

"You... Had a baby?" she asked, turning to look at him. He shook his head.

"Oh, no. We just... Adopted her"

"'We?' You two adopted her?" she asked, confussion all over her face. Gi-hun nodded to her. Her eyes travelled between them with a confused face.

"Oh, it's not what you think" said Gi-hun with a nervous laugh, his cheeks turning pink.

"It's not?" asked In-ho, his tone serious, he crossed his arms.

"No, it's not" he replied fastly "Well, talk to me about school, how are they treating you?" he asked. He rounded her shoulders and walked to her to the little kitchen.

In-ho looked at them and then lowered his gaze to the baby, who was still sad about her broken toy.

While he was trying to fix it, his mind couldn't stop thinking.

What the fuck just happened?

Chapter Text

The next day, they went back to Ga-yeong's house. Gi-hun wanted to spend the most time he could with his daughter while he could.

Then, it wasn't Ga-yeong who opened the door, it was her mom.

"Hi" she greeted, her face serious.

"Hey..." he greeted back, his position changed into a tense one. In-ho saw the switch from the car "I'm sorry for what happened, I-"

Suddenly, the woman moved and hugged him. He didn't move under his arms. In-ho moved to see the situation from a better spot.

"Ga-yeong told me what happened, I'm glad you're okay" she said. Gi-hun patted her back, not really knowing what to do "But you better not do that again, she loves you so much. You're the good cop after all" she rolled her eyes with a smile.

Gi-hun smiled too, he still remembered all the times they fought because while her mom was trying to make her behave properly and be polite, he was always by her side, making his wife seem like the bad one.

"I won't dissapear again, I promise" he said.

In-ho could feel something inside of him break. He held the wheel tight, trying to not get crazy.

The teenager finally got out of the house and they walked back to the car. Ga-yeong greeted him and Sun-hee. When Gi-hun got into the car, he had a little smile on his face.

Control. Yourself.

He spent the rest of the day silent, out. He wasn't listening when Gi-hun talked to him, or when they made a joke and expected him to laugh too.

He just pushed Sun-hee's carriage, behind Gi-hun and his daughter.

He wasn't jealous of Ga-yeong, not at all. He knew how Gi-hun loved her, but since they arrived... It seemed like Gi-hun wanted to take back his old life.

He even denied being with him, he thought they were together. They did all together, eat, sleep, sex, groceries...

Maybe he misunderstood it all, maybe now that he was back with his daughter he realised that's where he wanted to life.

He couldn't blame him, after all, so he just accepted it.

So... He decided to go back to Korea, with Sun-hee. He would let Gi-hun start his life again, here. Next to his daughter.

That night, when they arrived to the hotel, Gi-hun took a shower. Meanwhile, In-ho was looking for flights for the next day. For some reason, he was in a rush. He wanted to rip the bandage the fastest he could. He didn't even talk to Gi-hun about it.

"What are you doing?" asked Gi-hun, behind him. He didn't hear him get out of the bathroom. He tried to hide the screen but it was too late "We said we would stay a week here, why're you looking for flights? We already have the tickets"

"I... I'm gonna go sooner"

"Why? Something happened?" he asked, sitting next to him, his voice filled with worry. In-ho could feel the scent of the other's body.

"No, just... Guessed you'd be more comfortable like that"

"What? Why?" he didn't answer, he didn't know what to say "Did something happen?"

"I... I've seen it all, I know you want your old life back, I get it" he said "You can stay here, I'll take Sun-hee back to Korea and we'll life there"

"In-ho, you're not making sense right now"

"Without us, you can take care of Ga-yeong and maybe... Get back together with her mom. We won't be a burden. You deserve to be happy and-"

"In-ho! Stop! What the fuck are you saying!" he asked, getting up "Get back to my ex? You being a burden? What the fuck?"

"It's what it seems like these days!" he argued back, getting up too "We're always behind, you're so smiley since you came here. You... Smiled to her"

"Is this about this morning? In-ho... I'm with you, I don't want you to leave"

"No, you're not with me, you left it pretty clear yesterday" he took his jacket and opened the door of the room "Doesn't matter, you hated me anyways, right? You can't let it go so easily" and with that he closed the door behind him, leaving a confused Gi-hun behind.

In-ho took a walk around Los Angeles, thinking.

Did he overreact?

He knew he didn't have the right to be jealous, they weren't a couple after all, but he thought they were.

Does that mean he's a fool?

That gives him the right to be jealous?

He never thought he would be like this again, like a confused teenager rooting for his crush, but here he was.

After a couple hours of walking around the city, he decided to go back to the hotel, he had to rest a little.

He opened the door. The room was quiet, the baby was resting and Gi-hun was too. He walked silently and took the the pillow on his side. When he was going to move, he felt a hand.

He didn't see Gi-hun moving since the room was all dark.

"Where are you going?" his sleepy voice asked. He shrugged.

"Couch"

"Stay" he whispered.

In-ho sighed. He couldn't say no to him. He put the pillow back and laid next to Gi-hun, distance between their bodies.

"I need you to explain why you're upset, because I'm not getting it" he said. In-ho sighed.

"I'm not upset"

"Cut that crap. Be honest"

"I... I heard that you called Ga-yeong's mom pretty and..."

"I never did that!" he yelled-whispered.

"You did, you told Ga-yeong she looked like her mom and that it was a compliment"

"I- Did you expect me to tell her it's an insult? It was just a fact. She does look like her mom and I pointed it, then she made a joke about it" he explained.

"But you married her, you think she's pretty"

"I did that many years ago and yes- I was... In love, but that love died along the years, I don't feel anything for her"

"Then she goes and hugges you and you came to the car smiling"

"That's- We've known each other for twenty years! Obviously she was glad I was okay" he lifted his hand and touched his face "It meant nothing"

"But- You said we weren't together" at that, Gi-hun stayed silent "I- I get it, okay? You've been hating me for, what? Four years? I know you can't get over that just yet. I'm- A murder and-" his voice started to break "I understand if you don't want me near your family-"

"In-ho, you're my family now" Gi-hun got closer to him "I don't hate you, okay? I- I feel things for you that are far from hate, okay? And you're not a murder, it's just- You tried your best" he made a pause "I just... Want to consolidate Ga-yeong's relationship before telling her about us, just so she won't hate me or hate you"

In-ho tried to wipe his tears, but he couldn't stop crying now. He have been so long without crying like that he even felt stupid.

"I'm scared" he whispered "Now that I finally have you, I don't wanna lose you. I almost did at the island and-"

"You're not losing me" he touched In-ho's hair, still with gel in it but a bit disheveled "I'm happy here because Ga-yeong is happy, but you're my family too now, and nothing will change that. The three of you are everything to me now"

In-ho turned and sank his face in the pillow.

"I'm so stupid"

"You're not" laughed Gi-hun "Sorry for making you feel like that"

In that chat, In-ho realised that the old and comprensive Gi-hun was coming back, or maybe he never dissapeared from inside of him.

Meanwhile, Gi-hun realised In-ho was more human than he thought. He had insecurities and real feelings.

They were still humans, even after all they went through.

Chapter Text

"How much longer? Sun-hee misses you. She asks for his papa"

'Just a couple of hours more, they don't shut up' said the man through the phone 'Just Sun-hee misses me?' he asked, he could hear that fucking smile.

"Shut up" he laughed "Come on. Go lick ass and get the job"

'Don't say that' groaned In-ho 'It's bussiness, you wouldn't know'

"You stupid fuck-" In-ho ended the call.

Gi-hun laughed at that. He was glad In-ho was like he was, they understood each other. His last marriage was a failure because of his jokes and light humor, among many other things and mistakes.

Most of them were Gi-hun's fault, by the way.

He still wondered how that relationship lasted so much. 

And even though In-ho and his ex-wife aren't too different, it's a complete new world being with In-ho. 

Sun-hee interrupted his thoughts.

"Papa?" she asked. Gi-hun smiled.

"He'll be here soon" he said "Miss him much?" she nodded with a pout.

She didn't like him much back when she was a baby, but now he was her favorite and... That made Gi-hun a little jealous.

"Want a cookie? I made some this afternoon" the girl clapped her hand with a smile, nodding. He smiled and got up from the floor to go to the kitchen.

He took the dish with the cookies, when he turned, he realised.

Sun-hee just got up. Her face serious, as if she was focused. From where he was in the kitchen, he could look at her, she was in the living room.

And then, it happened.

A step.

Another.

Gi-hun left the dish on the counter and got his phone from his pocket.

The girl kept taking steps, full of insecurity but also curiosity.

The girl saw him, now she had an objective.

Gi-hun started recording a video. The girl, with a big smile because of what she was achieving, kept walking.

She lost the balance and fell to the ground. Looked at Gi-hun, who was now on his knees, still recording.

"Come on Sun-hee! Come to greet papa!" he encouraged. The girl got up again and started walking "Oh my God In-ho you're missing this!" he said, making sure it would be also recorded in the video.

The girl finally arrived to Gi-hun, who hugged her.

"You're a big girl" he said, the phone now recording half his face and the baby's hair "All of that for some cookies? God, they're delicious right?" the girl nodded.

Gi-hun stopped the video, saved the phone in his pocket, took the dish with the cookies and walked to the living room.

"Come on Sun-hee, do it again"

Of course, she got up again and walked towards him, who sat her next to him in the couch.

"You're actually evil, taking your first steps without papa" he laughed and kissed her cheek "I love you so much"

He sent the video to In-ho with a message below.

You:

Video⤶
She definetly loves me more because look what she did today

Some minutes went by and In-ho answered.

In-ho❤️:

I'll be there in half

"Oh? What's he gonna do? Run away from the meeting?" laughed Gi-hun.

The girl sat there, eating as if she didn't provoke a fucking huracane in Gi-hun and In-ho's lifes.

20 minutes later, In-ho was entering into the house.

Gi-hun made the girl sit on the floor, who was exited about seeing his papa.

"Sun-hee! Papa arrived! Go to him!"

In-ho kneeled in front of the door. Sun-hee got up and started walking, better now. She was received with a big hug.

"My little girl is walking!" he gasped, he didn't realise tears started to appear in his eyes "She's walking like a big girl!"

The girl just laughed and hugged his neck. In-ho got up and kissed her head.

He didn't realise Gi-hun recorded everything in a video.

"I have a video of you crying" he said "Prepare yourself"

"You really have to film everything?!" he asked, annoyance in his voice. Gi-hun shrugged.

"I finally got a good phone, I wanted to do it some time ago" he made a pause "And you'll thank me in some years"

It wasn't a secret Gi-hun took photos and videos of everything.

And when I say everything I mean everything.

In-ho taking a shit.

In-ho's face changing Sun-hee diaper.

A selfie where In-ho was sleeping with his mouth open and his neck in a very weird position while the photographer was inserting a finger into his mouth.

In-ho was usually annoyed. Some days he even wanted to take the phone and throw it through the window.

But today, today he wasn't angry. He was releived Gi-hun was near because he would have been too busy crying to think about saving the memory.

And Gi-hun did it.

He walked to his boyfriend and planted a kiss on his hair.

"Thank you. I love you" he said, his eyes soft.

Gi-hun's face turned red. Oh, how In-ho loved that.

"Love you too" he said in a rush, taking a whole cookie and inserting it into his mouth without thinking.

In-ho laughed and hugged his baby.